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Davis Wells’ WFAN interview gets heated: ‘Yes man’

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4 months ago

July 23, 2024

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Davis Wells’ WFAN interview gets heated: ‘Yes man’

David Wells has never been one to hold back — and he certainly didn’t over WFAN airwaves.

While joining “The Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata Show” on WFAN on Monday afternoon, Wells — who discussed wearing Babe Ruth’s 1934 hat during a 1997 game with the Yankees — shaded Tierney, who criticized the pitcher for violating team uniform code.

“You would be a great manager for the Yankees right now, because you’re a yes man,” the 61-year-old Wells said. “You’re going to kiss their ass, and do whatever they tell you to do.”

“No way. Stop that,” Tierney replied.

“You are a yes man,” Wells offered.

That’s precisely the moment when the interview mood turned from jocular to defensive for the hosts.

“You say that — I’m just going to say that I’m not?” Tierney countered. “I’m going to say that if you knew me — and by the way, your boy Coney [David Cone] knows me, ask him — we were talking about you, all good stuff. Ask Coney if I’m a yes man. I can promise you I’m not.”

The three-time All-Star internalized the bitter remark but continued with his attack, pointing out what he believed to be flawed logic.

“Okay, but you’re going to criticize me earlier if I would’ve [taken] better care of myself,” Wells said. “Now, you’re defending Joe Torre. Now, you’re flipping the switch here. I got you!”

“I’m not defending Joe Torre,” Tierney answered. “I’m adding context, number one. Number two, I’m a fan. That’s what makes you such a fan-favorite: You’re very imperfect. I’m just illuminating some of the imperfections, because we’re having a good conversation. That’s all.”

That intervention by Licata seemed to do the trick, with the eclectic Wells embracing his uniqueness.

“I’m all for it. I think it’s great, because it is good conversation,” Wells summarized. “I beat to my own drum, and it worked for me. It doesn’t work for everybody else, but it works for me.”

The initial spat stemmed from Wells revealing that Torre fined him $2,500 for donning the memorabilia in a game.

Earlier in the conversation, Wells reinforced his dislike of Torre, who the pitcher believed was the sole driver of his trade out of New York in 1999.

“Broke my heart. It was a dream come true to play for the Yankees,” Wells said. “The Yankees meant the world to me as a kid. To get traded, first day of Spring Training, it rocked my world. … I think it was Joe Torre, because he did not like me, at all. I didn’t think he was a great manager, because he didn’t treat everybody the same way.”

During his 21-year career, Wells played in the pinstripes for four seasons, winning a title in 1998 while throwing a perfect game on May 17 of that same season — just the fourth in franchise history.

Despite his unceremonious exit in 1999 — being dealt to the Blue Jays for Roger Clemens — Wells returned to New York for two seasons from 2002-03.

Since retiring in 2007, Wells hasn’t been afraid to speak his mind.

In the last month alone, the southpaw has publicly defended once-suspended Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and shared that he nearly fought George Steinbrenner.